Alarm watch



8" 1957 o. RAMSEIER ET AL 2,803,940

ALARM WATCH Filed Oct. 14, 1954 INVENTORS OTTO RRNSEIER ANDRE NEYLRN (3W6; l/(W ATTORNEY trite 2,803,940 Patented Aug. 27, 1957 ALARM WATCH Otto Ramseier, Grenchen, and Andr Meylan, Delemont, Switzerland, assignors to Fabrique dEhauches Venus S. A., Moutier, Switzerland Application October 14, 1954, Serial No. 462,253

Claims priority, application Switzerland August 7, 1954 Claims. (Cl. 58--57.5)

The present invention relates to an alarm watch with a single barrel, comprising on the one hand a winding and setting stem and, on the other hand, a second stem controlling the displacement of the alarm hand and the blocking of the alarm, the first stem cooperating with a setting lever and a clutch lever for controlling the displacement of a clutch wheel.

According to the invention, the second stem cooperates with a second setting lever which extends within reach of the clutch lever, so that when this second stem is brought into the position for which the alarm is released, its setting lever causes the clutch lever to take such a position that the clutch wheel is disengaged from the winding pinion in order to prevent the winding stem from being rotated upon operation of the alarm, means being provided for again engaging the clutch wheel and the winding pinion when the second stem is brought back into its alarm-blocking position.

For a better understanding of the invention reference may be had to the attached drawing and to the following description of an alarm watch in accordance with the invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of an alarm watch constructed in accordance with the invention, taken from the dial side.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view of same, taken from the bridge side.

The alarm watch shown in the drawing comprises two control members, namely a winding and setting crown 1 and a crown 2 controlling the displacement of the alarm hand and the blocking of the alarm. The crown 1 is rigidly fixed to the stem 3 on which the clutch wheel 4 is slidably mounted. The winding pinion 5 meshes with the crown wheel 6 which is pivoted on a cap screw 7 screwed in the framework of the watch. The setting lever 8, pivoted as at 9, has its stud engaged in the groove 10 of the stem 3, whereas its pin 11 cooperates with a doublecatch jumper 12. The clutch lever 13 cooperating with the clutch wheel 4 is pivoted as at 14 and is under the action of a double-legged spring 15, fixed to the framework by means of the screw 16.

In the winding position (shown in the drawing), the clutch wheel 4 is in mesh with the winding pinion 5 which through the crown wheel 6 controls the ratchet wheel 17.

In the setting position, obtained by pulling outwards the crown 1, the clutch wheel 4 meshes with an intermediate wheel 18 which is itself in mesh with the minute wheel 19. The latter engages the cannon pinion 20. The minute wheel pinion 21, rigidly fixed to the minute wheel 19, is in mesh with the hour wheel 22.

The crown 2 is rigidly fixed to the stem 23 on a square portion of which a control pinion 24 is slidably mounted. The pinion 24 engages an intermediate wheel 25 which is itself in mesh with a second intermediate wheel 26; the wheel 26 is carried by a second clutch lever 27 pivoted as at 28. The wheel 26 is adapted to actuate the unlocking wheel 29 which is concentric with the hour wheel 22.

The second clutch lever 27 is under the action of the spring 15 which tends to displace the lever 27 towards the bottom of Figure 1, that is to engage the wheel 26 with the unlocking wheel 29.

The stem 23 also cooperates with a setting lever 30 pivoted as at 31 and the stud 40 of which is engaged in a groove 32 of the stem 23. The setting lever 30 carries a pin 33 cooperating with a double-catch jumper 34. The members 12 and 34 are made integral and form together a double jumper. The pin 33 goes through a slot 35 of a blocking lever 36 pivoted as at 37. The lower part of this lever 36, not shown in the drawing, is adapted to come into contact with a hammer in order to block the alarm. The lever 36 has a lug 38 extending below the free end of the second clutch lever 27.

On the side opposite to that carrying the pin 33, the setting lever 30 has an extension 39 stretching within reach of the free end of the clutch lever 13. The function of the extension 39 will be explained below.

The alarm watchas shown and described comprises only one barrel 41 for the movement and the alarm mechanism. in the known constructions of this type (see for instance the Swiss Patents Nos. 1,546 and 28,106), when the alarm is operated, the barrel arbor is rotated, whereas the force for the time train of the movement is furnished by the rotation of the barrel. A stop work of a known type is provided for limiting the duration of the alarm, in order to prevent the mainspring from being completely unwound.

The operation is as follows:

in Figure 1 both crowns 1 and 2 are pushed down. The extension 39 of the setting lever 3t? does not act upon the clutch lever 13, so that this lever, under the action of the spring 15, assumes a position for which the clutch wheel 4 meshes with the winding pinion 5. If the crown 1 is turned in the usual winding direction, the pinion 5 drives the ratchet wheel 17 through the intermediary of the crown wheel 6. If the crown 1 is turned in the reverse direction, the clutch wheel 4 slips over the contrate teeth of the pinion 5 so that the latter is not driven.

The displacement of the alarm hand is operated by turning the crown 2. The unlocking wheel 29 which carries the alarm hand (not shown) is driven through the intermediary of the parts 24 to as. It is worth noting that this displacement can be eltected in only one direction in order not to cause any damage to the mechanism. Let us suppose, indeed, that the crown 2 is turned in such a direction that the intermediate wheel 25 is rotated in the clockwise direction of Figure l. The tangential force exerted on the wheel 25 results in rocking the lever 27 in the counter-clockwise direction, against the action of the spring 15, so that the wheel 26 is disengaged from the unlocking wheel 29. On the contrary, when the crown 2 is turned in the reverse direction, the tangential force exerted on the wheel 26 is added to the force of the spring 15 and the wheel 26 meshes with the wheel 29, so that the displacement of the alarm hand can be eitected.

in the position of the parts shown in Figure 1, the lever 36 is in contact with the hammer and the alarm is thus blocked.

The setting of the hands of the watch is operated as usual by pulling and then turning the crown 1. The clutch wheel 4 then drives the minute wheel 19 and its pinion 21 through the intermediary of the wheel 18.

When the watch is wound and the alarm hand is adjusted for the time desired, the alarm is unlocked by pulling the crown 2. Several functions are then effected, which will now be described:

(a) The setting lever 30 is rocked in the counter it is still possible to set the hands of the watch.

clockwise direction of Figure 1 about the screw 31 and its extension 39 causes the clutch lever 13 to rock in the clockwise direction against the resistance of the spring 15. The clutch wheel 4 slightly moves downwards and is disengaged from the winding pinion 5, but its displacement is small enough as not to come into mesh with the intermediate wheel 18; thus, it assumes such a middle position that if the crown 1 is-now turned,

However,

Indeed, if the crown l is pulled outwards, the setting lever 8 is first turned by a certain angle before abutting against the clutch lever 1.3 and then, continuing its movement, it rocks the clutch lever 13 until the clutch wheel 4 engages the wheel 18. When the crown 1 is brought the stem 3 turns idle without any function.

back into its starting position, the clutch lever 13 and the clutch wheel 4 come back under the action of the spring 15 into their middle position. When the alarm is operated, the ratchet wheel 17 is rotated and drives the crown wheel 6 and the winding pinion 5, but the latter cannot drive the clutch wheel 4, so that the stem 3 and the crown 1 remain at rest.

(b) The pin 33 of the setting lever leaps from one of the catches of the jumper 34 to the other, thus securing the position of the stem 23.

(c) The pin 33, going through the slot 35 of the lever 36, rocks the latter in the clockwise direction of Figure 1, so that the lower end of the lever 36 unlocks the hammer and allows the alarm to be operated at the prescribed time.

(d) Upon the movement of the lever 36, the lug 38 of the latter lifts the second clutch lever 27 against the action of the spring 15, so that the intermediate wheel 26 is disengaged from the unlocking Wheel 29. It is therefore no longer possible to turn the alarm hand. Thus, any undesired derangement of this hand is avoided. Both crowns 1 and 2 are idle and without any function when the crown 2 is in its pulled position; nevertheless, as already stated, the setting of the hands of the Watch is possible irrespective whether the crown 2 is pulled or pushed.

By pressing down the crown 2, the alarm is stopped, either during the operation of the alarm or preventively.

While a representative embodiment and details have been shown for the purpose of illustrating the invention,

case carrying a first stem for winding the watch and for setting the time hands and a second stem for shifting the alarm indicator and for blocking the alarm mechanism, a winding pinion rotatably mounted on said first stem for winding the Watch, a gear train for adjusting the time hands, a clutch wheel slidably mounted on said first stem for meshing engagement with said winding pinion or with said time hands gear train, means for engaging or disengaging said clutch wheel with said winding pinion and said gear train respectively, said means comprising a first setting lever connected to said first stem and a clutch lever actuable by said setting lever, a second setting lever connected to said second stem, said second setting lever having an extension bearing on said clutch lever and adapted to bring said clutch wheel out of engagement with the winding pinion when said second stem is brought into its alarm-releasing position, so as to prevent said first stem from being rotated upon operation of the alarm, and means for re-engaging the clutch wheel with the winding pinion when said second stem is brought back into its alarm-blocking position.

2. In an alarm watch according to claim 1, said extension of said second setting lever being so shaped that when said second stem is brought into its alarm-releasing position, said clutch wheel is caused to take an intermediate position in which his engaged with no gear.

3. In an alarm watch according to claim 1, a gear train tor-adjusting the alarm indicator, an intermediate wheel in said geartrain, a second'clutch lever, said intermediate wheel'pivoted insaid second clutch lever so as to produce uncoupling of said alarm indicator gear train when it is tried to turn the alarm indicator in a certain direction.

4. In an alarm watch according to claim 1, a lever adapted to block the alarm mechanism, said lever directly controlled 'by'said second setting lever.

5. In an alarm watch according to claim 3, a lever adapted to block the alarm mechanism, said lever directly controlled by said second setting lever, said lever having a lug adapted to act upon said second clutch lever when saidsecond stem is brought into its alarmreleasing position so as to 'uncouple said second stem from the alarm indicator.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,554,402 Ditisheim May 22, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 686,214 Great Britain Jan. 21, 1953 

